The vibes are high for the Vegas Golden Knights right now. They just handled the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 on Thursday, 5-1, and are preparing for the Colorado Avalanche. That's right, folks. Vegas is preparing for its fifth semifinal appearance in franchise history.
What's funnier is that they haven't been around that long, like, nine seasons. But you already know that since it's a testament to the overall sound structure of the front office and ownership group.
But that isn't the most noteworthy thing that came out of the Golden Knights' realm on Saturday. Instead, it was at City National Arena, where everyone's favorite short king, John Tortorella, was holding a practice. You gotta tune up the band before facing the world's best, you know?
So, let's go over the various things seen at City National Arena on a peaceful Saturday. What were Golden Knights fans in for as the practice went down? Who showed up and who wasn't on the ice? Here's a complete breakdown of the sights and sounds in Summerlin on Saturday.
Notable players not on the ice for the Vegas Golden Knights
It shouldn't come as a surprise that Mark Stone and Jeremy Lauzon weren't on the ice for the Vegas Golden Knights. The Captain has been out since Game 3 and Lauzon missed the entire second round against the Anaheim Ducks. However, you can add one more name to the list of absent players: William Karlsson.
The Original Misfit wasn't on the ice for the Golden Knights, leaving many fans concerned... again. Vegas needs its entire team back on the ice against a stacked Avalanche team. Otherwise, it'll likely be a short series with tee times scheduled for late May in Summerlin.
Reilly Smith better see some action for the Vegas Golden Knights against the Colorado Avalanche
Whenever I watch Reilly Smith skate on the ice for the Vegas Golden Knights, I notice a man who focuses on the fundamentals. He keeps his head down and works on his stick-handling. His dedication to the craft doesn't go unnoticed, especially in the postseason.
The Original Misfit has 29 goals and 56 assists during his postseason career, making him an essential lower-line player for the Golden Knights. He's also efficient on special teams, making him even more dangerous. Why not add him to the lineup against the Avalanche and get his experience in the lineup?
Mitch Marner is already feeling the good vibes after making his first semifinal in his career
Mitch Marner heads down the ice to try and score on Adin Hill. He fumbles the puck a couple of times, yet it doesn't matter because he fires a blistering wrister past Hill. He screams in pure joy after scoring a goal.
That vibe shift is noticeable for many reasons. One, he's making his first semifinal in his career. Two, he doesn't have the added pressure of worrying about what a hawkish media group has to say since that's non-existent in Las Vegas. Life is good for Marner.
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